SAFETY BENEFITS OF THE SEAT BELT LEGISLATION AND SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION IN ONTARIO

In January 1976, legislation became effective requiring the use of seat belts. In February 1976, the seat belt legislation was enforced for the first time and speed limits were lowered on many of the major highways. This paper will examine the evidence that shows that both seat belts and lower speed limits have been effective in reducing injuries and saving lives. Included will be the trends in observed seat belt use, trends in travel speeds, fatality and injury rates with and without belts, accident statistics on highways where the speed limit was lowered as compared with highways where the speed limit was not lowered, and fatality and injury rates for vehicle occupants as compared with other motor vehicle accident victims.